Poverty, protests and pandemics: what can we learn from community resilience?

Abstract

The destruction of property, theft and violence that occurred in South Africa, particularly in KZN and Gauteng in the week of 12 July 2021 had a significant impact on the national psyche. As we try to come to terms with the magnitude of the consequences on the political, economic, psychological and social levels, what are the lessons that we can draw from this adversity? This commentary draws on the notion of community resilience to understand what has happened, and how it may provide markers for the future. The commentary begins with a short overview of the notion of community resilience, followed by a discussion of its utility to explain the events as well as lessons for the future. Resilience research has grown considerably, particularly in the last decade and has shifted from a narrow focus on individual mental health, particularly early in its development, to a more systemic approach. Nonetheless, concerns remain about its usage and it is a highly contested concept that needs to be problematized. Both terms (i.e., community and resilience) remain complex and contested, but the idea that collectives or groups (i.e., communities) have agency to respond to adversity is a useful framework for understanding the recent conflict and violence in South Africa.